Welding apparatus



June 20, 1944. A. R. swENsoN WELDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i /NVENTOR A. R. SWENSON f 69 uf- June 20,'1944- A. R. swr-:NsoN 2,351,722

WELDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1942 2 Spams-Sheet 2 i v 29,31' A: 3/

I F7623 l 25 E- Fl6.5

@www

Patented June 2,0, 1944 WELDING APPARATUS Arthur R. Swenson, Fanwood, N. J., assigner to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 20, 1942, Serial No. 427,422

Claims.

This .invention relates to welding apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for butt weiding wire leads to other parts.

.An object of the invention'is to provide a welding apparatus which is simple in structure yet highly emcient in feeding lengths of mate'ial to a part and butt welding the material to the part.

With this and other objects in View, the invention comprises a welding apparatus having relatively movable electrodes, one adapted to support a part and the other adapted to gripa material and feed a predetermined variable length of the material to the part, means being provided to complete a welding circuit through the electrodes to edect welding of the material to the part when engagement of the material and part has been completed.

@ther objects and advantages will be apparent from the foliowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein rig. l. is a side elevational view of the welding apparatus in open position, portions thereof beingv shown in section; .I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View oi the welding apparatus in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a iront elevational view of the welding apparatus;

Fig. d is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line d-t of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a Wiring diagram of the welding circuit.

Attention is now directed to the drawings, which illustrate a base lll mounted upon a suitable support li, such as a bench, and having spaced uprights i2 and it rigidly mounted thereon and extending vertically therefrom as shown in Fig. l. It will be observed that the base ld is spaced from the support il by tubular members iii through which suitable bolts extend to secure the base to the support. The base Hi, near its forward edge, has spaced supporting blocks l5 rigidly mounted against movement by suitable means (not shown) and insulated from the base by insulating members I6. Companion leaf springs I l, of the contour ,illustrated in Fig. 3, are disposed with their ends resting on the blocks I5 adjacent vertical integral portions I8 of the blocks.r the latter serving to hold the springs against displacement. An electrode 20 of any desired structure, for example of the contour illustrated in Figs. l and 2, is mounted centrally of the springs l'l with a control member 2i threadedly connected .thereto and projecting through aligned apertures of the springs. The control member 2| is slidably disposed in an insulating bushing 22 mounted in the base lll and serves to maintain the electrode in a truly perpendicular plane with respect to the base i0. A pin 23 carried by the control member 2i limits the upward movement of the electrode du and maintains the springs ll suitably compressed. The electrode 20 may be included in a welding circuit which is under the control of a microswitch 25, the latter being mounted on the base l il as shown in Fig. 1.

An adjustable head 21, apertured to receive the upper ends of 'uprights I2 and itl, is adapted, through the aid of screws 2d, to be mounted at desired variable positions on the uprights for purposes hereinafter described. The head 2l supports brackets 29 and 3u, these brackets in turn supporting series of wire straightening rolls 3l and 32, the axes of the rolls 3i being disposed in planes at right angles to the planes of the axes of the rolls 32 to serve to straighten a material, such as a wire 33, when pulled through the series of rolls.

Beneath the head 21, a movable electrode and wire feeding mechanism, indicated generally at 35, is disposed. This mechanism includes a body or cross member 36, apertured at and 38 to receive the uprights i2 and it for movement of the body vertically on the uprights. Tubular members It@ and 40 are xed to er marie integral with the body 36 concentric with the apertures 3'! and 38 respectively, as well as the uprights i2 and i4, for sliding movement on the uprlghts. This movement of the members il@ and du. as well as the movement of the body 35 on the uprights, is controlled by the head 2, the members 39 and 4u abutting against the head when in the normalv or open position. Friction shoes di are disposed in apertured ends 42 of the body and are backed up by compressed springs d3 to allow movement of the body relative to the uprights, yet to hold the body against movement by the force of grav- 1 ity, unless suiilcient force is provided to accomplish that result. At one end of the body, that is the rearmost end, a bracket 45 is mounted and supports an adjustable screw 4B, the latter being positioned in alignment with a plunger Il'l of the `micro-switch 25, to eiect actuation of the switch through the plunger when the body 36 has been lowered a predetermined distance.

At the opposite end, that is the front end of the body 36, an electrode unit is mounted. The unit is composed of. two parts, identied specifically at 5| and 52, these parts being in the present instance substantially square in cross section and having aligned apertures 53 and 54 respectively (Fig. 4) to receive supporting pins 55. The pins have their inner ends rigidly mounted in the body I8, in the relative position shown in Fig. 3. the outer ends of the pins being adapted to movably support parts 5I and 52 of the electrode unit. If desired, the part 52 may be made rigid on the pins, it being important, however, that the part 5I be movable thereon. The means to impart movement to the electrode part 5I, to grip the wire 3l in companion V-grooves 56 and 51 of the parts 5I and 52 respectively (Fig. 4) consists of sets of links 58 and 59 connected, through a yoke 50, to a pull rod 6 I, the latter being movable through a foot'treadle or element E2 (Fig. 3).

Referring nrst to the links 58, it will be observed that these links are disposed one upon each side of the body 36, the forward ends of the links being pivotally connected to the outer ends of a pin 6I, the latter extending through the electrode part 5| as shown in Fig. 4. lThe inner ends of the links 58 are pivotally connected, through the aid of pins 65, to the sides of the yoke il, the latter being U-shaped in general contour, providing a central portion extending beneath the body 36 and adapted to abut against the body when in one position. the sides of the yoke being positioned one upon each side of the body. The links 59 have their inner ends secured in a similar manner to the sides of the yoke 5l, through the aid of pins 66. The outer or rearmost ends of the links 59 are pivotally mounted on a pin G1 which extends through the body I8, serving also as an abutment for the adjacent spring 4I in the aperture 42.

Referring now to the pull rod 6I, it will be observed that this rod is connected, in any suitable manner, at its upper end to the yoke SII and extends downwardly, through a cup 69, to a suitable position beneath the support Il, where the treadle or element 62 is pivotally connected thereto as at 10. The cup 69, disposed in aligned apertures in the base In and support II, has an integral ange 1I at its upper end resting upon the upper surface of the base, the cup in general being cylindrical in contour with a partially closed lower end to support the lower end of a spring 12, the latter being disposed concentric with the pull rod BI and engaging the under surface of the yoke 60 to serve as means to force the entire feeding mechanism, electrode parts, into open position.

Means is provided to cause upward movement of the feeding mechanism with the wire and a part 1I to which the wire is welded after the welding operation has been completed, to free the part from the electrode 2U before the feeding mechanism releases the wire. This means consists of abutting elements 1E, centrally apertured for the uprights I2 and Il and apertured adjacent their outer ends for guide pins 11. Sleeves 18, disposed concentric with the uprights I2 and I4, are disposed beneath the elements 16 and rigidly secured thereto or made integral therewith. Similar sleeves 19, disposed concentric with the uprights I2 and I4, are supported by the base l0 or secured thereto. Attention is directed to the distance the sleeves 1.8 and of each set are spaced from each other when the apparatus is in the open position shown in Fig. 1. Compression springs 80 are disposed concentric with the sets of sleeves between the base Il and the respective elements 16, to normally urge the elements upwardly against heads 8| of the pins 11.

including the Fig. 5 illustrates a simple welding circuit which 75 may be employed to perform the welding of the material to the part. This circuit includes supply lines and BI connected to the primary winding of a transformer 92 through the control of the micro-switch 25 and a relay operated control 53. The secondary winding is .connected to the elecrodes 20 and 5l--52. It is believed that a further description of the welding circuit is not necessary for a clear understanding oi the invention. Furthermore, other electrical units may be included in the circuit, if so desired, to control the electrical energy employed and the time desired for each weld.

Upon considering the operation of the apparatus, let it be assumed that' the wire 33 is supplied Irom a supply spool (not shown) suitably mounted. The part 14 in the present embodiment is substantially U-shaped in cross section and `the electrode 20 is constructed to substantially conform to the part so that the part, when once located upon the electrode, will be supported thereby. The wire 33 is severed after each welding operation, a suitable distance below the upper electrode unit, this distance depending upon the diameter of the wire and possibly the type of material of which it is composed. When a part 1I has been disposed upon the electrode 2li the operator may then apply pressure downwardly on the treadle or element 52, effecting downward movement of the pull rod 6I against the force of the spring 12 and similar downward movement of the yoke 50. The first portion of the downward movement of the yoke G0 eifects gripping of the wire through the association of the links 58 and 59 with the electrode part 5I. The rearward ends of the links 59 being mounted upon a fixed pivot causes any out of line movement of the links to move the electrode part 5I toward the part 52, resulting in a gripping of the wire in the vertical V-grooves 56 and 51. The friction shoes 4I hold the body 38 against movement during this portion of the gripping operation. Thus the wire is gripped before downward movement oi the body 3B begins. Continued downward movement oi the pull rod 6I causes downward movement of the body through the yoke 60 and the links 58 and 59. During this downward movement of the body and the upper electrode, the wire 33 is drawn between the series oi straightening rolls 3| and 32, effecting straightening of the wire. The body, in its downward movement. strikes first the elements 16, to move the elements against the force of the springs B0 to the position shown in Fig. 2, where the sleeves 1B rest upon the sleeves 19. However, before the feeding mechanism, including the body and the upper electrode, is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 2, the end of the wire is brought into engagement with the part 14, which, with the electrode 20, is moved downwardly against the force of the springs I1, after which the screw 46 causes actuation of the switch 25, through its engagement with'the plunger 41, to eiect energization of the welding circuit. The welding operation will effect softening oi the material of the wire and the part at the meeting points. The force of the springs I1, which at this time are compressed, will provide the necessary push-up of the electrode 2U and the part for the necessary flow of the material during the welding operation.

After a sutlicient lapse of time required for the completion of the welding of the wire and the part, the operator may then release the downward force of the element 02, to allow the movable parts to return to their normal or open positions. First, the elements 18, through the force of their springs l0, will effect upward movement of the feeding mechanism before the electrode parts I and l2 are allowed to release the wire, the purpose being to move the Vwelded part with the wire free of the electrode 20. At the extreme beginning of the upward movement of the-mechanism, the switch 2l is open, thus opening the welding circuit to the electrodes. The combined force of the springs Il! is greater than the force of the spring 12, effecting advanced movement of the body 3l during the releasing of the treadle or element 82, until the elements 1l have reached the limit of their movements, at which time the body 38 will remain/against movement through the holding force of the friction shoes 4I until the yoke is. moved upwardly to a point where its central portion will engage the body. During this relative movement of the yoke and the body, the links 5l and I! are caused to function to move the electrode part 5| outwardly free of the wire Il. Furthermore, movement of the yoke N upwardly, through the force` of the spring 12, will effect upward movement of the feeding mechanism relative to the wire until this movement is stopped by the tubular members I9 and 40 engaging the head 21. At this time suitable wlre cutters may be employed to cut the wire a desired distance beneath the under surface of the upper electrode parts 5l and 52. At this time the welded parts, namely the length of wire and the part 1l, may be disposed in any suitable receptacle, thus conditioning the apparatus to perform another welding operation. The length of the wire welded to the part may be varied by varying the position of the head 21 on the uprights I2 and I4 relative to the electrode 20. The length of the wire is determined by the normal open positions of the body 36 from the elements 1l minus the length of the wire left extending beneath the upper electrode parts. Therefore, by varying this distance, through the adjustment of the head 21, the length of the wire may be varied.

It is, therefore, evident that the apparatus includes an electrode mounted upon resilient means which function to provide the necessary push-up during the welding operation. The apparatus also includes a combined gripping and feeding mechanism variable in its movement to grip and feed variable lengths of wire or material to the part, this mechanism having an associated control, through the elements 16, to limit the time interval of its actuation during movement into the open position, to effect movement of the welded parts free of the lower electrode, allowing free removal of the welded parts through the aid of a suitable cutting tool.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown and described it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as deflned by the appended claims.

What is claimed ls:

1. A welding apparatus comprising an electrode to singly support parts to be welded, an electrode adapted to grip a wire, an electrical welding circuit including the electrodes, an electrical switch to control the welding circuit, means to move the gripping electrode from a normal position to a welding position to singly move lengths of wire to the parts, means to subsequently actuate the switch to close the circuit, and

means to vary the said normal position of the gripping electrode to vary the lengths of wire moved thereby to the parts.

`2. A welding apparatus comprising an' electrode to support parts to be welded, an electrode adapted to grip a wire, actuabl'e means to cause the gripping electrode to grip the wire for movement of the wire into engagement with the part for welding, means to effect welding of the wire and the part together, and means to move the gripping electrode to move the welded part free of the supporting electrode.

3. A welding apparatus comprising an electrode to support a part to be welded,`an electrode adapted to 8rip.a wire, actuable means to cause the gripping electrode to grip the wire for movement of the wire into engagement with the part for welding, means to effect welding of the wire and the part together, and means to move the gripping electrode to move the welded wire and part a predetermined distancevfrom the supporting electrode and render the said actuable means ineffective to release the wire during the said movement.

4. A welding apparatus comprising an electrode to support a part to be welded, agripping unit adapted to grip material to be welded to the `part, means to move the gripping unit to move the material into engagement with the part, means to effect welding of the material and the part together, and means to move the gripping unit to remove the welded part free of the electrode and maintain the gripping unit in gripping position during said movement.

5. A welding apparatus comprising an electrode to support a part to be welded, a gripping unit. adapted to grip material to be welded to the part, means to move the gripping unit from a normal position to feed a predetermined length of the material to the part, means to en'ect welding of the material and the part together, means to move the gripping unit away from the electrode, and means to maintain the unit in gripping engagement with the material during a portion oi' the last mentioned movement.`

6. A welding apparatus comprising an electrode to support a part to be welded, a gripping unit adapted to grip material to be welded to the part, means to move the gripping unit from anormal position to a welding position to feed a predetermined length of the material to the part, means to effect welding of the material and the part together, means to move the gripping unit away from the electrode and to the normal position, and means to maintain the unit in gripping engagement with the material during a portion of the last mentioned movement, means to vary the movement of the gripping unit, the said predetermined length of the material beingvariable by varying the remainder of the movement of the gripping unit away from the electrode to the normal position.

7. A welding apparatus comprising an electrode to support a part to be welded, a gripping unit adapted to grip material to be welded to the part, means to move the gripping unit from a normal position to feed a predetermined length of the materia1 to the part, means to effect welding of the material and the part together, means to move the gripping unit away from the electrode, means to maintain the unit in gripping engagement with the material during a portion of the last mentioned movement, and means to vary the distance of the normal position relative to the electrode to vary the length of the material fed to the part.

8. A welding apparatus comprising an electrode to singly support parts to be welded, elements to straighten material passing therebetween, means to pull successive lengths o! the material from between the elements and feed them singly to the parts, means including the electrode rendered ei'lective after each feeding operation to cause welding of the lengths of matrial to their respective parts, and means to vary the action of the pulling means to vary the `said lengths of material.

9. A welding apparatus comprising a gripping unit adapted to grip material to be welded to the part, means to move the gripping unit to move the material into engagement with the part. a member to movably support the unit and guide the unit relative to the electrode, means to effect welding of the material and the part together,

l0 guide the unit relative to the electrode, means to efi'ect welding of the material and the part together, means to move the gripping unit to remove the Welded part free of the electrode and maintain the gripping unit in gripping position 15 during said movement. and friction means interposed between the gripping unit and the slid supporting member to hold the unit against accidental movement on the member.

ARTHUR R. SWENSON. 

